Connect - Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council

Award winning
social services
Blaenau Gwent Council’s
work to make life better for
children and young people
with disabilities has won a
prestigious Wales Excellence
Award
We’re very proud of this glowing
tribute to the partnership between
our local authority and children’s
charity Barnardo’s Cymru.
We share the philosophy that
disabled children are children first
and should have the same rights
and opportunities as others.
John Rogers, Executive Member
for Social Services, said:
“Our Council’s Children’s Services
team sets a great example by
improving service and bringing
Local people using the Council’s
benefit service took part in a
customer survey recently.
83% of customers were ‘very
satisfied’ or ‘generally satisfied’
with our service.
Customers visiting said:
• Staff were friendly - 92%
• Staff treated me with respect -
88%
• Clear explanation given - 81%
Customers telephoning said:
• Staff were professional - 80%
• Enquiry dealt with satisfactorily -
88%
• Long time in call queue - 27%
Here are some customers’
comments: “I am very satisfied with
the service… staff have been very
helpful”
“Patience is a virtue. May I
commend you all”
education, health and leisure
services together. We now have a
dedicated children with disabilities
team, an occupational therapist
and access to special nursing
support.”
The Blaenau Gwent partnership
project offers:
• a short break service for children
with disabilities
• support to allow children with
disabilities to get out and about
• summer play schemes.
Yvonne Rogers, Director of
Barnardo’s Cymru, said:
“We are delighted - our partnership
has helped to make a real
difference to the lives of children
and young people with disabilities.”
Friendly customer
service
“To be more private - everyone
could hear you”
“If anything could be improved
it would be to be told a private
consultation would be available”
We aim to improve the service
to you. A new customer service
facility - due to be completed early
in 2009 – will take into account
your views about the need for
privacy.
On the
wild side
Parc Bryn Bach went wild this
summer with a free, fun for all
the family, event to celebrate
biodiversity in Blaenau Gwent.
Over 2,000 people joined in
to promote greater community
awareness and involvement
in looking after the natural
environment.
Visitors took part in family activities
- face-painting, woodcarving,
building bird boxes, creating
wild art and nature walks. There
were lots of fun competitions and
quizzes.
Don Wilcox, Executive Member for
Regeneration and Highways, said:
“Go Wild gave local people the
opportunity to enjoy nature and
wildlife at first hand while also
helping safeguard its future.”
BLAENAU GWENT LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Tell us
Tell us what you think of the
proposals and options for the
future of Blaenau Gwent.
• How much development?
• Where should it go?
Coming soon to a venue near you.
For more information, contact
the Planning Policy Team
on 01495 354740/ 355538/
355544, alternatively email
planningpolicy@blaenau-gwent.
gov.uk.
Connect
for Council news & information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
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